Srinagar encounter ends; terrorists killed

Today the CRPFs were in an encounter with the militants in Srinagar, Jammu Kashmir. And now the encounter has ended.

Three militants were killed and a CRPF officer injured in an encounter between militants and security forces in Chattabal area of Srinagar on Saturday.

A civilian was also killed in a road accident in Noorbagh, close the encounter site, allegedly during protests by locals.

State director general of police (DGP) S P Vaid tweeted that the encounter had ended in Chattabal area of the city and three bodies had been recovered.

Encounter concluded in Chattabal Srinagar. Three bodies of terrorists recovered in a clean operation by J&K Police & CRPF. Well done boys.

— Shesh Paul Vaid (@spvaid) May 5, 2018

A civilian, Adil Ahmad Yadoo, was involved in an accident at Noorbagh and taken to SMHS hospital in Srinagar where doctors declared him dead, Jammu and Kashmir police tweeted.

However, locals alleged that Adil was run over by a vehicle of the security forces during the protests.

There was commotion outside the SMHS hospital as some youths tried to take the body of Adil. Witnesses said police took away his body, triggering protests and stone-pelting.

Chattabal, Noorbagh and SMHS hospital fall within a 3-km radius.

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CRPF spokesperson Rajesh Yadav said that an assistant commandant of the force was hit in his toe during the encounter at Chattabal. “He has been shifted to 92 Base Hospital,” he said.

The encounter began after Jammu and Kashmir police and the CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in Chattabal based on a tip-off about the presence of militants.

Scores of youth came out in protest against the forces and pelted stones at them.

Three photojournalists were also injured after being hit by stones during the protest. Umar Asif, working with a local news agency, has been hit in his face and received some stitches. Javed Dar was hit by a brick in his stomach and was hospitalised and Farooq Khan was hit by a stone on his right arm.

Moderate Hurriyat leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed his anger over the death of Adil in a tweet, accusing government forces of “crushing him to death during protests”.

The stone pelting is currently spreading havoc in Srinagar.